Where Do You Run to When the Last Good Place Is Burned to the Ground?
by @adforperu · @loveonamixtape
Liner Notes
@adforperu : well that's a long title, isn't it? Early February, I made a start on a progression with a few nice sounding synths. I thought it'd be nice to get an IRL collab going, so I invited my Water People bandmate/great pal Hannah over to lay down some exquisite bass guitar, which she did a last night. She also brought her flute just in case...played it for 10 seconds and then was like naaaaaah, but I kept it in (including the naaaah that's at the end).
I didn't really fancy singing on this one, so I racked my brain as to who would smash it out of the park and my mind went pretty quickly to @loveonamixtape. Ashley very quickly fired back the most excellent croonery vocal, singing some excellent lyrics.
Massive thanks to Ash and Hannah for being utter legends!
@loveonamixtape: always love getting to collab with @adforperu, which is extra fun and funny to say because I think this might only be the second track we've done together? Ha! Anyway, was stoked when I saw something from him in my inbox for a possible collab and was even happier when it felt like a good place for this obliquely political lyric I'd been playing around with. Would you believe me if I told you this was mostly inspired by the most recent wild fires in California? And, also, you know, inspired by...gestures broadly at everything else
Love how this final mix turned out --- thank YOUUUUUU Ad for the opportunity to collab on this track!
Lyrics
Where do you run to when the last good place Is burned to the ground? Who do you go to for comfort when the last five faces you saw were frowns? Ashes to ashes and dust to dusk Free Luigi and crucify Elon Musk If we must
Where do we run to when the uttermost West is filled to the brim? We were promised Undying Lands at the end of our days, but who’s gonna argue with him, Eru Ilúvatar, if he changes his mind At the last minute, end of time? Power is power is The power to decide
Water water everywhere But not a drop to drink Because the sea is boiling There’s more of us Than there are of them But we’re too busy toiling To believe things could ever change But Kierkegaard said, “baby if you want to make ‘em eat cake You gotta be willing to take a leap of faith” (I’m paraphrasing)
Power is power is The power to change minds
Comments
"Ashes to ashes and dust to dusk, free Luigi and crucify Elon Musk" is so good ahahahah. Amazed. the delivery and production has a grand quality to it. love it.
I think I listened to this at least three times already without commenting, I'm all out of the commenting juice! I got no juice, Jerry!!! Anyway this is amazing, the way it all swells in the chorus is fabulous, and I think the flute is a nice touch. Vocal and lyric incredible from Ash. Really love: But Kierkegaard said, “baby if you want to make ‘em eat cake You gotta be willing to take a leap of faith” (I’m paraphrasing).
This is such a different style than what I think of as yours, Ashley, but it still feels so authentically you. Hooray to writing music first and keeping the lyrics oblique. This song feels like good company for whatever comes.
This is awesome. I love how you sing here, in that sultry club style — thinking Anna Calvi, Nadine Shah tones. That synth that plays a counter melody under the vocals is so good. It might be lounge but it’s not predictable. Also really appreciate that bass glueing everything together. This has such a warm, sumptuous feel to it, which is why the knife of ‘we’re all fucked’ slides in so easily.
This is super gorgeous, with all the louche lyrics, swooping keys and flute flying in for a quick visit. Hannah knows how to write a good line doesn't she? That Dust to Dusk/Elon Musk feels like a righteous callout that could be a mike drop at the grammys. I'm really jealous of your production as well, it sounds mint and seems to spend half its time building and getting wider at the same time, before it collapses into a lofi session
This is a treat. Big swoony vocals, smart lyrics, lovely arrangement. Love that rubbery bit at the end - made me think of that old THX 'The audience is listening' sound you used to get before a film.
Truly gorgeous! So swoony and laid back, everything floats like clouds on a burning sunset. Loving the lower register vocals, so rich and full. And the lyrics are beyond poetic. Could have done with an extended three part flute solo to end though 😝
MMMM is me flowing my lips over all these delicious loungy chord flows !! seriously full and almost reminds me of arctic monkeys hotel and casino album styleee which i adore. Utterly mega job on the vocals, they suit down to the ground. And all i can say having finished this is MMMMMMMMMMMMM
Daaaaaaaaang. This is sumptuous. Buoyant, effervescent, and... apropos. Bravo, y'all!
Zowie... This is critically hip and smoother than butter. Except for those cutting lyrics - it's really a perfect balance. You two work tremendously well together. Wonderfully lush and quite the experience in my earphones. Lovely and gorgeous. So. Much. Going. On. It's perfect
every single chord here hits so good. super satisfying stuff. i also have to give props for the DELIGHTFUL vocals, as someone who's quite picky about those!
i never took Ashley for a Carpenters fan, but unless my ears deceive me, i hear a touch of the karen in her vocals. the arrangement is really wild. i especially jumped at the response to the Kierkegaard /Marie Antoinette mashup
Oh wow, have I heard Ashley in full crooner mode before? I can't remember. It's pretty magic, especially delivering these bad-ass lyrics and over this gorgeously shimmery track. The flute is lush, glad it made the final mix! Love the big pitch-bends at the end too.
Top collab work here! Loving how the electronic elements combine - like a meeting of ocean currents. Slight Getting It Wrong vibes to the pad with the slow attack! Vocals sound great and I'm down with the lyrics too 👍🏻
Lush and brimming with swishy swirly loveliness and then that moment's break.
Ha, I love how you make these slick and lush tunes and then let the studio banter shine through the cracks. Really pleasant jazzy trip hop feel to this, feels like floating on a cloud. The vocals adds such great lilting melodies over the backdrop.
LUIGI DID NOTHING WRONG he wasn't even there. Probably.
Well this is very big and wooshy. I never know what I'm going to encounter with a AF joint, but it's never expected.
I like the chordbend resolve on the end.
I suspect she does know what she's doing after all.
Beautiful melody and sound design! Fits into the depressing current political mood, but also leaves on a more uplifting, hopeful note.
Love how the lyrics almost feel like outlaw country, but the flow and synths are so cinematic and grand - great vocal delivery. I feel your frustration. Glad the flute stayed in, it's an excellent touch. And the bass is super solid!